US President Donald Trump has sharply reduced the timeline he previously gave Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, warning that Moscow now has just 10 to 12 days to comply or face intensified economic sanctions.
Speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland on Monday, Trump said he was accelerating his earlier ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last month, the U.S. leader had set a 50-day deadline for a truce before imposing so-called “secondary sanctions” on countries doing business with Russia, especially those purchasing Russian oil.
“I’m going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number,” Trump said. “There’s no reason in waiting… I’m making a new deadline of about 10 or 12 days from today.”
While Trump expressed hope that an agreement might still be possible — “We might make a deal,” he said — he also signaled growing frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations. “I want to be generous, but we just don’t see any progress being made.”
Trump’s revised timeline reflects a shift in his approach to the conflict, particularly since meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the NATO summit last month. The U.S. president, who had previously blamed Kyiv for escalating tensions, has recently taken a firmer stance against Moscow.
In response to Trump’s latest remarks, Zelenskyy issued a statement Monday evening expressing support for what he called the U.S. president’s “clear stance and expressed determination... right on time, when a lot can change through strength for real peace.”
“Ukraine remains committed to peace and will work tirelessly with the U.S. to make both our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” Zelenskyy added.
The Kremlin has not yet issued an official response to Trump’s shortened ceasefire deadline. However, Russian officials had reiterated earlier on Monday that Moscow remains open to dialogue, though no concrete steps toward a truce have emerged.
Trump’s threat of secondary sanctions—especially targeting countries buying Russian energy—has raised concerns among several global trade partners. The proposed measures could affect not only Russia’s economy but also nations that continue to maintain trade relations with Moscow.
The coming days may prove pivotal, as both diplomatic and economic pressure intensify amid a prolonged and deadly conflict that has reshaped global alliances and threatened regional stability.
